Markets & Policy

The development and deployment of renewable energy-based microgrids in First Nations communities in regional and remote Australia is to be accelerated as part of a new $125 million (USD 80 million) program financed by the federal government.

Energy market analyst Cornwall Insight Australia has flagged that proposed new rules for the operation of big batteries could have negative effects on the energy storage market, suggesting the changes could reduce the revenue streams available to batteries and cut their lifespan.

Australia’s national science agency has teamed with corporate advisor RFC Ambrian to form a new company to commercialise electrolysis technology that the CSIRO said can produce hydrogen with 30% less electricity than existing alkaline and polymer electrolyte membrane technologies.

TotalEnergies has increased its stake in French renewables giant Total Eren from 30% to 100%, a transaction that values the independent power producer at almost $5.0 billion (EUR 3.5 billion).

Northern Territory government-owned Jacana Energy has opened a tender calling for the private sector to submit proposals to build up to 100 MW of utility scale PV and 30 MW/30 MWh of grid-forming battery energy storage in the Darwin-Katherine region.

The City of Sydney Council has taken the first step to eliminate gas connections in all new residential and commercial properties across the municipality despite the New South Wales government having previously ruled out a statewide ban.

Australian gas infrastructure major APA Group has announced it will purchase Chinese-owned utility Alinta Energy’s remote power assets in Western Australia’s Pilbara region in a deal worth more than $1.7 billion (USD 1.1 billion) as it seeks to reduce its exposure to fossil fuels.

Quarterly investment in large-scale energy storage projects has broken through the billion-dollar barrier for the first time but the Clean Energy Council has cautioned that a slowdown in generation projects means Australia is a long way off the pace necessary to achieve the 82% national renewable energy target by 2030.

Chinese battery industry heavyweight Contemporary Amperex Technology has unveiled a new electric vehicle battery that reportedly enables long-range driving on a fast, 10-minute charge. It expects mass production to begin by the end of this year, and vehicles equipped with the battery to be available in the first quarter of 2024.

A Brisbane-based man pled guilty to a scheme where solar installations were certified while the signed supervisor was, at the time, overseas.